Premier League calm Fergie fears

The Premier League were keen to stress on Friday they have only just begun the consultation process over plans to play an 'international round' of matches after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson criticised the decision to go public on the issue.

Ferguson refused to give his opinion on the proposal, which would see every top-flight club play an extra match a season in a foreign city. The 20 clubs voted in principle to explore the proposal which would take effect from the 2010-11 season.

Ferguson said: "What disappoints me is [United chief executive] David Gill phoned me and said 'keep this quiet, we are going to discuss it' and then it's all over the papers this morning."

"They can't keep their mouth shut down there," he added.

"I think if they are going to do these things, they should have been enquiring and having discussions with managers and players before they come out with all this stuff and make an issue of it.

"These issues should be discussed internally by clubs before they come to this position we are now but until I speak to David Gill again I have nothing more to say about it."

Responding to Ferguson's remarks, a Premier League spokesman said: "This is the start of the consultation process, not the end.

"It was given to the clubs on Thursday so that they can initiate that process.

"This is a proposal which everybody knows needs a lot of work and a lot of consideration before it takes its final shape."